Many Gold Coasters may be concerned that will be diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19). But what actually happens when you contract the virus?
It’s important to remember that everyone diagnosed with COVID-19 will experience it a little differently, because their bodies will respond to the virus in a different way.
Treating mild illness at home
For most Gold Coasters, having the virus will cause only a mild illness, and it will be more of an inconvenience than a serious health issue. Some people may not have any symptoms at all, while others might have mild symptoms including:
- fever
- cough
- sore throat
- fatigue
- shortness of breath.
If your symptoms are manageable without medical supervision, your doctor will instruct you to look after yourself at home in self-isolation. This means you need to stay in a room by yourself while you get better, so you don’t give the virus to anyone else. You can read more about how to self-isolate safely in this factsheet from the Australian Government Department of Health.
If you are recovering with the virus at home, it’s important to get plenty of rest, drink fluids, and eat well when it’s comfortable to do so.
Your doctor may have given you advice about medicines you can take to help with your symptoms. It’s important to only take medicines your doctor has recommended, because they will understand how these might interact with any other medicines you take and your health history.
What happens if symptoms get worse?
While you are recovering at home, your doctor or a public health official will check in with you about how you’re feeling. You must tell them if you notice new or worsening symptoms, so they can make the best decision about how to manage your illness. If you become more unwell, they may decide you need to be moved to hospital.
If you notice new or worsening symptoms that are concerning you at any time, contact your doctor or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) to speak to a registered nurse – you can use this service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When to call an ambulance
You should always call an ambulance if:
- you are experiencing severe symptoms, like shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- you think it’s an emergency
- you think your life or someone else’s life is in danger.
Call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. If you can, explain to the operator that you have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Treating serious symptoms
Some people who have COVID-19, particularly people who are elderly or have pre-existing health conditions like heart disease, diabetes and asthma, or are immunocompromised, may experience more serious symptoms. Sometimes these can be life-threatening.
Increasingly serious symptoms of COVID-19 can include:
- pneumonia – an infection of the lungs which can make it hard to breathe
- bacterial infection – a second infection caused by bacteria
- sepsis –a life-threatening condition that happens when the body’s response to an infection damages healthy tissue and organs.
If you are at higher risk of getting very unwell, because of your age or you have a pre-existing health condition, and or you are already very unwell, you may be treated in hospital. In hospital you will be in a special ward, away from patients who do not have COVID-19. You will not be allowed to have visitors and the hospital staff treating you will wear special equipment to stop themselves from catching the virus.
How long you need to stay in hospital will depend on how unwell you are – it might be days or weeks until you are well enough to go home.
If you are severely unwell, you might be treated in the Intensive Care Unit.
What is an intensive care unit and who needs to be treated there?
In a hospital, an Intensive Care Unit, or ICU, is a specific ward where very sick patients who need specialist critical care are treated. ICUs are different to other areas of the hospital. In an ICU, every patient usually has constant, one-on-one care. The patient might have breathing tubes to help them breathe, and they might be sedated so that they stay relaxed or asleep.
Patients who have COVID-19 may be treated in ICU if they have severe breathing problems, pneumonia or have developed another condition like sepsis. Once they are in the ICU, the focus will be on treating these symptoms and complications so that they can survive.
How long will symptoms from the virus last?
Symptoms of the virus may last between days and weeks and may get worse over time. People who have experienced severe symptoms or side effects from the virus may take weeks or months to recover fully, while people with a mild illness may feel completely better within a week or two.
What can I do to stop the spread of COVID-19?
If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you might be concerned about spreading the virus to others. The best thing you can do is self-isolate properly if you are at home, and follow the instructions given to everyone about hygiene during this pandemic.
Every Gold Coaster should be following these steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19:
- wash your hands often and properly
- try not to touch your face
- stay 1.5 metres away from other people
- don’t go out when you are sick, even if you have not been diagnosed with COVID-19.
You can read more about how the virus spreads and how people can protect themselves and others in our blog article, How does COVID-19 spread and how can I stop myself from getting it?
More information
Queensland Health: Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
Health Direct: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
World Health Organization: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Contact tracing for coronavirus (COVID-19) - how it's done in Queensland
